Conservation officers find second eagle shot to death

SULLIVAN COUNTY — Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the shooting deaths of two juvenile bald eagles in the same area of the state.

Officers located the second juvenile eagle after responding to a call to a rural area in northern Sullivan County along County Road 800W, approximately 8 miles west of Shelburn. As part of the investigation, the body of the eagle was recovered from a tree and found to have been shot. Officers believe the shooting occurred in early January.

The first juvenile bald eagle determined to have been shot was discovered in a southern Vigo County tree on March 10. Officers determined that juvenile eagle was killed from a gunshot to the breast area.

A joint $2,000 reward is being offered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Indiana Turn-in-a-Poacher, Inc. (TIP) to anyone with information leading to conviction of the responsible party/parties. If you have information, or know who is responsible,  contact DNR Law Enforcement Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or the TIP hotline at 1-800-847-4367 (TIP-IDNR).